For release: August
10,
2004
Contacts:
Chris Blau, Vibroacoustics
Solutions, Inc., (319) 415-0763
Carey Novak, IPRT Company Assistance, (515) 294-2293;
cnovak@iastate.edu
Robert Mills, IPRT Public Affairs, (515) 294-1113;
rmills@iastate.edu
NOISE CONTROL START UP GARNERS
FIRST RESEARCH GRANT
" Smart" material may revolutionize design of
noise-generating
machinery
AMES — A start-up company, Vibroacoustics Solutions, Inc., has received a $100,000
award from the National Science Foundation to develop an innovative “smart”
material that can control noise and vibrations in applications ranging from
home appliances and office furniture to construction equipment and vehicle
suspension systems.
VSI was founded in 2003 by Dr. Ken Budke, a dentist from Cedar Falls,
Iowa, and Atul Kelkar, a professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State
University,
to commercialize applications of new vibration and noise control technologies
being developed at ISU. Its commercialization and grant efforts have been
further supported by the Company Assistance arm of ISU’s Institute for Physical
Research
and Technology. The company also received assistance from ISU Pappajohn Centers
in Ames and Cedar Falls. VSI has an office at the ISU Research Park.
With the NSF grant, which was made through the federal government’s Small
Business Innovative Research program, VSI will develop a proof-of-concept
for a natural
fiber, plastic composite material embedded with active noise control technology.
The material will have both active and passive vibration-reduction features
that can cover a very wide spectrum of vibration frequencies and yet be
molded like conventional plastics for use in engineered products. “This material
can lead to the manufacture of a variety of ‘quiet’ machinery and appliances,”
said Budke. “We believe it can revolutionize the design of noise-generating
machinery.”
Carey Novak, an IPRT technology transfer associate, has worked with the
company almost since its inception. Using resources of the Technology
Commercialization Acceleration Program (TCAP), Novak helped the company
map out its initial
product-development efforts.
“We have received excellent assistance from Carey, IPRT, ISU staff and
TCAP,” Budke said. “Carey has been an exceptional resource in providing
VSI with
practical direction.”
Novak has also helped the company make contacts with critical companies
in Iowa. VSI is collaborating with Creative Composites of Brooklyn,
Iowa, on
the SBIR project. Another IPRT-assisted start-up company, Creative
Composites manufactures
unique materials made with a mix of natural fibers and traditional
plastics. Moreover, with help from Novak and the TCAP program, VSI has
initiated
relationships with several Iowa companies to collect feedback, help
focus prototype development
and develop strategic alliances.
Novak and Lynne Mumm, another IPRT technology transfer associate, also
worked with the company to develop its winning SBIR proposal as well
as two others
still under consideration. Budke said VSI greatly appreciated IPRT's
expertise in writing SBIR grants. The company’s winning SBIR proposal
to the NSF
received the highest score of all the proposals reviewed for the
topic. IPRT regularly
helps Iowa businesses find SBIR grant topics, submit proposals and
win awards. In 2003, with IPRT’s assistance, 18 Iowa companies won
26 SBIR
awards worth
$6.4 million, the most awards ever won in a single year and the highest
dollar amount ever.
VSI’s start came when Budke was seeking ways to control dental drill
noise in his office. He soon met Kelkar, an expert in noise and
vibration control.
The two realized their noise and vibration control ideas had potential
applications far beyond that of a dental office, and VSI was formed
to exploit those ideas.
VSI’s noise and vibration control technology is partially based
on Kelkar’s years of research, some of which was funded by NASA and
the National
Science Foundation. The firm is working to license the ISU-developed
technology
and to build its own technologies, and Kelkar continues to work
with the company
as the Chief Technology Officer.
TCAP provides research and engineering assistance, performs market
and customer research, and supplies intellectual property services
to Iowa
entrepreneurs
and businesses. The program represents a partnership between
IPRT, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the ISU Pappajohn
Center for
Entrepreneurship, the ISU Research Park and the ISU Research
Foundation.
The Institute for Physical Research and Technology is a network
of scientific research centers at ISU. Through its company
assistance efforts, IPRT
helps Iowa companies solve technical problems, create new products
and increase
productivity and quality. More information about IPRT can be
found on the Web at http://www.iprt.iastate.edu.
